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70% of KS Business Leaders Agree They Pay Too Much Taxes in 2023

The Kansas Chamber's Annual Business Leaders Poll shows business owners believe higher taxes was the most damaging to profitability this year.

Posted December 20, 2023

The Kansas Chamber released the 19th edition of its Annual Business Leaders Poll on Tuesday, which analyzes important issues 300 Kansas businesses faced this year.

“Kansas job creators are looking for leadership and solutions that will keep the cost of doing business low in our state so they can compete,” Chamber president and CEO Alan Cobb said. “It is our hope the governor and state lawmakers keep these poll findings in mind as they consider the many important decisions they will make during the 2024 legislative session.”

Taxes have been the main concern for many business leaders surveyed in the poll. When it comes to the most important factor for profitability, 45 percent of business leaders agree that lowering taxes on business. In addition, 70 percent say they pay too much in taxes outright a ten percent increase compared to last year’s poll, Cole Hargrave Snodgrass and Associates (CHS) president Pat McFerron said.

The Kansas Chamber commissions CHS annually to conduct the survey since 2004.

Poll highlights include:

  • 74 percent believe it would help the Kansas economy to lower taxes
  • 65 percent don’t believe Kansas has the best business climate when compared to other states
  • 61 percent believe it is more important to improve student performance than to increase funding for schools
  • 60 percent say the lack of soft skills is their greatest concern with the Kansas Workforce